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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Caution, vocal pyrotechnics!

Fasten your seat belts . . .

Rose-in-bloom (The Sultana Zubeydeh) sang this magnificent song in Hood & Sullivan's operetta The Rose of Persia. It is a challenge for any soprano, but originally it was set in an even higher key for a special star of the period, Ellen Beach Yaw, who had a remarkable voice. The original had top notes (F sharp in alt!) even higher than Mozart's Queen of the Night's songs in The Magic Flute. However Ellen did not stay the course, and it was re-written in the present A flat major form for the brilliant coloratura soprano Isobel Jay.

In the opera, Rose-in-bloom, with three of her favourite ladies, escapes from her confines in the palace. They disguise themselves as dancing girls and go 'on the town'. As Rose-in-bloom explains, in her palace restrictions she felt like a girl waiting for her lover. It is a remarkable number, invariably further embellished by the singer, which stopped the show every night¹.

This later version (not to be taken less seriously than the original by sopranos) spans more than two octaves and still has a couple of top Cs and six top E flats in alt (above the stave). A tall order! And the runs, trills and cadenzas are also somewhat breath-taking! However, MusicSmiles visitors, shouldn't be daunted, feel free - have a go. But, if you want to study it earnestly, look for details in our bibliography².

'Neath My Lattice

'Neath my lattice through the night
Comes the west-wind perfume laden,
As a lover to a maid,
Sighing softly: "here am I!"
Sighing softly: "here am I . . . . . !"
"Come and wander where I wander . . ."
In the silence of the stars . . .,
The stars . . . the stars . . . of the stars!
In the moonbeam's magic light
Cool and silent dew-drops glisten,
When the roses weep to listen
To my heart's impatient cry:
"Shall the cage-bird leave her prison,
Golden through . . . her prison bars!"

Through the bars . . ., thy wing beat,
To the stars . . . . . O sing!
Let thy soul on wings of music
Soar beyond . . . thy prison bars . . .!
Let thy soul on music soar.
Ah^^^! . . . . . . . .
O, Bulbul³ sing to the stars . . .
Ah! . . . . . . . .
O let thy soul on wings of music
Soar beyond, beyond  . . . thy prison bars!
Ah! . . . . . . . . let thy soul
Soar . . . . . . beyond,
Soar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ah^^^! beyond.

Ah! we hope you felt better after singing that. It was worth trying, wasn't it? Or, if you weren't tempted, it hopefully merited just listening to Arthur's exciting music, (with a few added MusicSmiles twiddles of course) . . .

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1.    Footnote: It is worth seeing a live performance if possible. There are also performances on record or disc. See our MusicSmiles bibliography. Return to story

2.    Footnote: For further information see Rees & Spencer in our MusicSmiles bibliography. Return to story

3.    Footnote: A Persian nightingale, a sweet singer. Return to story

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